Sonographic changes in the thyroid gland after sclerotherapy with doxycycline can be mistaken for thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: The literature considers sclerotherapy to be a safe and effective treatment for benign thyroid cysts. No subsequent diagnostic problems have been reported as a complication. We report the occurrence of focal inflammation after said therapy, mimicking a thyroid malignancy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a young male with a solitary strongly suspicious lesion in the thyroid. The patient had undergone prior sclerotherapy of a thyroid cyst with Doxycycline. The lesion appeared to be a focal area of inflammation and thus iatrogenic in nature. Systemic use of doxycycline is known to sometimes cause a non-immune chemical thyroiditis, dubbed as black thyroid due to the intense black discoloration of the thyroid. It might be that the instillation of doxycycline was responsible for a similar, more localized area of thyroiditis. CONCLUSIONS: For the work-up of a solitary suspicious thyroid lesion, the medical history of the patient should always be considered. In case of prior ipsilateral sclerotherapy, a reactive inflammatory response may mimic thyroid malignancy. A fine needle aspiration should be performed to exclude thyroid cancer. Treatment is not necessary; the process appears to be self-limiting as evidenced in the follow-up of this case.

Impact of fatigue on anaesthesia providers: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Recently, fatigue has received more attention as a workplace hazard. This scoping review focuses on fatigue in anaesthesia providers. We explore the prevalence of fatigue in anaesthesia providers, and we examine how fatigue impacts their performance. METHODS: A literature search was independently conducted from December 2019 through March 2020. The following four databases were consulted: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PubPsych. Only studies discussing fatigue in anaesthesia providers were eligible. RESULTS: The initial database search identified a total of 118 studies, of which 30 studies were included in the review. Eight articles concerned the prevalence of fatigue in anaesthesia providers, whereas 22 explored the impact of fatigue on the performance of anaesthesia providers. Up to 60.8% of anaesthesia providers suffered from severe excessive daytime sleepiness, and fatigue was denoted as a common workplace problem in up to 73.1% of anaesthesia providers. Fatigue had a negative influence on medication errors and vigilance, and it decreased the performance of anaesthesia providers during laboratory psychomotor testing. There was a decrease in non-technical skills (notably communication and teamwork) and worsening mood when fatigued. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this scoping review, fatigue is a prevalent a phenomenon that anaesthesia providers cannot ignore. A combination of deterioration in non-technical skills, increased medication errors, loss of sustained attention, and psychomotor decline can lead to poorer performance and cause patient harm. Concrete strategies to mitigate fatigue should be developed.

Relative Perfusion Differences between Parathyroid Adenomas and the Thyroid on Multiphase 4DCT.

A multiphase 4DCT technique can be useful for the detection of parathyroid adenomas. Up to 16 different phases can be obtained without significant increase of exposure dose using wide beam axial scanning. This technique also allows for the calculation of perfusion parameters in suspected lesions. We present data on 19 patients with histologically proven parathyroid adenomas. We find a strong correlation between 2 perfusion parameters when comparing parathyroid adenomas and thyroid tissue: parathyroid adenomas show a 55% increase in blood flow (BF) (p < 0.001) and a 50% increase in blood volume (BV) (p < 0.001) as compared to normal thyroid tissue. The analysis of the ROC curve for the different perfusion parameters demonstrates a significantly high area under the curve for BF and BV, confirming these two perfusion parameters to be a possible discriminating tool to discern between parathyroid adenomas and thyroid tissue. These findings can help to discern parathyroid from thyroid tissue and may aid in the detection of parathyroid adenomas.

Subcutaneous emphysema of the extremities: Be wary of necrotizing fasciitis, but also consider occult rupture or perforation.

Not all causes of subcutaneous emphysema are attributable to necrotizing fasciitis. Consider other causes of subcutaneous emphysema in the differential diagnosis.

High-frequency Multiphase 4DCT for the Detection of Parathyroid Adenomas: A Pictorial Essay.

4-Dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) for the detection of (an) enlarged parathyroid(s) is a commonly performed examination in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism. In our center, we introduced a high-frequency multiphase 4DCT protocol obtaining 16 phases, including 11 different arterial phases. Exposure to this multiphase 4DCT technique is similar to that for classic helical 4DCT. In this pictorial essay we reconstructed our multiphase 4DCT series in the manner of a classic helical 4DCT and compare both techniques. We illustrate how multiphase 4DCT may aid in the detection of parathyroid adenomas. We found 17 out of 19 lesions demonstrating a type A pattern of enhancement, therefore suggesting this pattern could be more prevalent than previously thought. Some parathyroid adenomas may be mistaken for enlarged lymph nodes using classic 4DCT whereas high-frequency multiphase 4DCT can detect a temporary rise in enhancement, thus suggesting the lesions in question to be of parathyroid origin. Smaller lesions may prove more obvious as the difference in enhancement between parathyroid and thyroid can become more prominent. KEY POINT: Using high-frequency multiphase 4DCT an arterial phase with maximum enhancement of parathyroid tissue can be defined. This phase may aid in the detection of parathyroid adenomas.

4DCT Scanning Technique for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: 4DCT for the detection of (an) enlarged parathyroid(s) is a commonly performed examination in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism. Protocols are often institution-specific; this review aims to summarize the different protocols and explore the reported sensitivity and specificity of different 4DCT protocols as well as the associated dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature study was independently conducted by two radiologists from April 2020 until May 2020 using the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) database. Articles were screened and assessed for eligibility. From eligible studies, data were extracted to summarize different parameters of the scanning protocol and observed diagnostic attributes. RESULTS: A total of 51 articles were included and 56 scanning protocols were identified. Most protocols use three (n = 25) or four different phases (n = 23). Almost all authors include noncontrast enhanced imaging and an arterial phase. Arterial images are usually obtained 25-30 s after administration of contrast, and less agreement exists concerning the timing of the venous phase(s). A mean contrast bolus of 100 mL is administered at 3-4 mL/s. Bolus tracking is not often used (n = 3). A wide range of effective doses are reported, up to 28 mSv. A mean sensitivity of 81.5% and a mean specificity of 86% are reported. CONCLUSION: Many different 4DCT scanning protocols for the detection of parathyroid adenomas exist in the literature. The number of phases does not appear to affect sensitivity or specificity. A triphasic approach, however, seems preferable, as three patterns of enhancement of parathyroid adenomas are described. Bolus tracking could help to reduce the variability of enhancement. Sensitivity and specificity also do not appear to be affected by other scan parameters like tube voltage or tube current. To keep the effective dose within limits, scanning at a lower fixed tube current seems preferable. Lowering tube voltage from 120 kV to 100 kV may yield similar image contrast but would also help lower the dose.

Propofol for Induction and Maintenance of Anesthesia in Patients With Brugada Syndrome: A Single-Center, 25-Year, Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Propofol administration in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) is still a matter of debate. Despite lacking evidence for its feared arrhythmogenicity, up to date, expert cardiologists recommend avoiding propofol. The main aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of malignant arrhythmias or defibrillations in patients with BrS, during and 30 days after propofol administration. The secondary aim is to investigate the occurrence of adverse events during propofol administration and hospitalization, as the 30-day readmission and 30-day mortality rate. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients with BrS who received propofol anytime from January 1, 1996 to September 30, 2020. Anesthesia was induced by propofol in both groups. In the total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group, anesthesia was maintained by propofol, while in the BOLUS group, volatile anesthesia was provided. The individual anesthetic charts and the full electronic medical records up to 30 postprocedural days were scrutinized. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five BrS patients who underwent a total of 304 procedures were analyzed. The TIVA group included 27 patients for 33 procedures, and the BOLUS group included 108 patients for 271 procedures. In the TIVA group, the median time of propofol infusion was 60 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 30-180). The estimated plasma or effect-site concentration ranged between 1.0 and 6.0 µg·mL-1 for target-controlled infusion (TCI). The infusion rate for manually driven TIVA varied between 0.8 and 10.0 mg·kg-1·h-1. In the BOLUS group, the mean propofol dose per kilogram total body weight was 2.4 ± 0.9 mg·kg-1. No malignant arrhythmias or defibrillations were registered in both groups. The estimated 95% confidence interval (CI) of the risk for malignant arrhythmias in the BOLUS and TIVA groups was 0-0.011 and 0-0.091, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of 304 anesthetic procedures in BrS patients, who received propofol, either as a TIVA or as a bolus during induction of volatile-based anesthesia, revealed no evidence of malignant arrhythmias or defibrillations. The present data do not support an increased risk with propofol-based TIVA compared to propofol-induced volatile anesthesia. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the electrophysiologic effects of propofol in BrS patents.

Ingestion of gelatinous candy, mimicking acute gastric bleeding.

A detailed medical history is vital in the correct interpretation of medical images: Peer-to-peer feedback and a thorough medical history can help avoid diagnostic pitfalls and unnecessary therapy.

Remains of Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, at Mid-Late Holocene archaeological sites in coastal Oman: clues of past worlds.

Small, irregular isolated bones identified as remains of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) were recovered from Mid to Late Holocene sites at Ra's al-Hamra and Ra's al-Hadd, coastal Oman. These provide the third instance of this animal being documented from any prehistoric site anywhere, and the records provide one of the oldest, if not the oldest, dates for this distinctive chelonian-even though they do not refer to fossils. Decades of research in this region has yielded vast amounts of archeological information, including abundant evidence of intense exploitation and utilization of marine turtles from about 6,500 to 4,000 BP. During part of this period, turtle remains in human burials have been extraordinary; the turtle involved, Chelonia mydas, has been abundant in the region during modern times. Yet despite intense and varied forms of prehistoric marine resource exploitation, and major, long-term archeological work, no other turtle species has been previously authenticated from these, or other coastal sites. The documentation of remains of the largest and most distinctive of living marine turtles, D. coriacea, at Ra's al-Hamra and Ra's al-Hadd, presented herein, provide detailed information that serves as the basis for future interpretations and discussions regarding incomplete, disarticulated remains from the Mid to Late Holocene, particularly in reference to taphonomic questions and diverse environmental conditions.

[A patient with high creatinine levels but no renal failure: reversed autodialysis in a patient with a ruptured bladder]. / Een patiënt met hoog creatinine maar zonder nierfalen: omgekeerde auto-dialyse bij een patiënt met een blaasruptuur.

BACKGROUND: In case of a ruptured bladder with urine leakage into the peritoneal cavity 'reversed autodialysis' can occur, in which urea and creatinine diffuse back into the bloodstream via the peritoneum. This causes clinical signs of pseudorenal failure, with raised concentrations of creatinine and urea. The urea/creatinine ratio does not change. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 34-year-old female patient experienced increasing abdominal pain 3 days after laparoscopic myomectomy. Acute renal failure was suspected because of increased serum concentrations of creatinine and urea, but no cause could be found. There was a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which proved to be urine originating from an iatrogenic rupture of the bladder. Serum levels normalised following repair of the rupture. CONCLUSION: If serum creatinine levels rise rapidly following abdominal surgery or blunt abdominal trauma the bladder should be examined for possible perforation, particularly if the abdominal dimension increases. A ruptured bladder leading to pseudorenal failure is an indication for rapid surgical intervention.